finger food and drink for a book party of 40 people for around $500-750

My spouse has a new book out and we're looking for a place for a party. Here are the criteria:

1. it will be about 40 people;2. we'd restrict the drinks to beer, wine, sparkling water. No mixed drinks;3. we'd like good finger food as it would be at or before most people's dinner time. Say, 7-9PM.4. It should ideally be not too far from NYU.

Ideally, it should be a non-ethnic cuisine to keep in theme of the book which is in large part about mainstream American ideology. Thus, although we are not far from Leela Lounge and it would be perfect in terms of size, finger food, drinks, it doesn't fit theme-wise.

We looked at Housing Works but it is too expensive. We looked at the basement of Think but it is too dingy. KGB doesn't serve food (and doesn't fit the theme of mainstream America!).